Natural Gast is one of the gaseous members of the paraffin series of which petroleum is a liquid member) and consists mainly of marsh as, the 'fire damp' of the miner. Its origin is the decomposition of forms f animal or vegetable life, and it is stored under pressure below strata if rock, being set free when those are pierced. Usually it has but little dour. Natural gas has been known to exist in America for over a entury, but the first economical use of it was made in 1821, when the own of Fredonia, New York, was lighted with the product of a small well. Its use in iron-making in Western Pennsylvania began in 1875 at the mills of Etna Borough, 6 M. above Pittsburg. It was first used in Pittsburg itself in 1886, when the gas from the Haymaker Well in Murrysville, the chief field of supply for Pittsburg, was conveyed in pipes to the city, a distance of 19 M. The annual consumption of natural gas at Pittsburg at present may be estimated at about 50,000,000,000 cubic ft., of which about two-thirds is used for domestic purposes and one-third for manufactures. Its price is 20-221/2 c. per 1000 cubic feet to private individuals, and 15 c. to manufacturers. There is no question but that the supply is gradually giving out; and it is already too high-priced for the rolling mills, which are reverting to coal and other forms of fuel gas. The illuminating power of natural gas is low. About 1200 M. of piping are used in leading the gas to Pittsburg, in about 15 different lines. The pressure at the wells averages 100 ft. per sq. inch and has been measured up to 700 ft. In fuel value 12 cubic ft. of gas are equal to 1 lb. of coal. The process of drilling for gas is similar to that of drilling for petroleum. Those who wish to visit a gas-well (of no great interest) should apply at the office of the Philadelphia Co., cor. of Penn Ave. and 9th St.

SMITHFIELD STREET (Pl. C, 3), diverging from Liberty Avenue (Pl.C-F,1-3), near the Union Station, leads to the river Monongahela; and the visitor is recommended to begin by following this street to the (1/2 M.) bridge (tramway) and crossing it to obtain the view of the city from Washington Heights. On the way we pass, to the right, the City Hall (Pl. C, 3); on the staircase is an inscribed tablet from Fort Pitt (p. 242), bearing the date 1764. A little farther on, to the left, is the handsome new Post Office (Pl. C, 3). At the bridge are the Monongahela Hotel (r.) and the Baltimore & Ohio Station (1.).

Crossing the Monongahela Bridge (Pl. C, 3; toll 1 c.), we should ascend to the top of Mt. Washington (370 ft.) by one of the three Inclined Railways (5c.) on this side. These interesting, but at first somewhat startling pieces of apparatus, are worked by ropes (not cog-wheels) and transport horses and carriages as well as persons.

The View from the top of the busy cities of Pittsburg and Allegheny, the three rivers, and the encircling hills, all more or less enveloped in smoke, is highly imposing and picturesque. At night, when the cold gleam of the electric lights vie with the lurid glare of the furnaces and smeltingworks, the effect is still more weird and fascinating. The deep basin in which Pittsburg lies has suggested the name of 'Hell with the lid off". The Court House and Post Office are conspicuous.

Those who have time to spare may, while on this side of the river, ascend Carson St. (Pl. C-F, 4; electric car) to S. 10th St. (Pl. D, 4) and visit the interesting Glass Works of Macbeth & Co. (producing 40-50,000 doz. of lamp-chimneys per week) or the United States Glass Works (table glass).

The finest building in Pittsburg and one of the best in the United States is the "Allegheny County Court House (Pl. C, D, 3),

Most of the data in this paragraph were kindly furnished by Mr. Jos. D. Weeks, of the 'American Manufacturer & Iron World'.

BAEDEKER'S United States.

16

in Grant St., a splendid example of Mr. H. H. Richardson's treatment of Romanesque, erected in 1888 at a cost of $2,500,000 (500,000.). The massive Gaol is connected with the Court House by a finely handled stone bridge. The main tower (*View) is 320 ft. high. The three entrances in the chief façade seem somewhat low and depressed for the size of the building. - - Near the Court House is the R. C. Cathedral of St. Paul (Pl. C, 3).

The only remnant of Fort Pitt (p. 240) is an old and dilapidated Block House (Pl. B, 3), in Fort St., near Point Bridge, which will be pointed out by one of the urchins of the squalid neighbourhood (soon to be restored). Hard by, on the Allegheny River, are the Exposition Buildings (Pl. B, 3), in which annual exhibitions are held.

The Penn Incline (Pl. E, 2), 17th St., is interesting from the manner in which it is led down over the top chord of the bridge spanning the Pennsylvania Railroad at its foot. · Other buildings of importance are the Pittsburg Library, 613 Penn Ave.; the German National Bank; the National Bank of Commerce; the Duquesne Club; Trinity Church; the new Carnegie Library, Forbes St.; and the School of the Ursuline Nuns, Fifth Avenue.

To see the pleasant residence-quarters on the hills, we take a Highland Avenue Electric Car, alight at its terminus (where it turns to go back to town by a different route), and walk up to (1/2 M.) Highland Park, with the town-reservoirs, which commands a fine *View, especially of the Allegheny. Schenley Park is also fine.

No one should leave Pittsburg without visiting one at least of the great iron and steel works which have made its prosperity and reputation. Among these are the Edgar Thomson Steel Works, the Homestead Steel Works, the Jones & Laughlins Works, the Oliver Iron & Steel Co., the Crescent Steel Works, and the Keystone Bridge Co.

Those who wish to visit the two first-named works apply for a pass at the office of the Carnegie Steel Co., 42 and 48 Fifth Ave. (Pl. C, 3). Half-a-day at least should be allowed for the visit. Perhaps the best way is to go to Bessemer, on the Pennsylvania R. R. (from Union Station); visit the Edgar Thomson Works; proceed thence by B. & O. R. R. to Salt Works (10 c.); cross the river by small-boat ferry (5c.) to Munhall; walk to (3/4 M.) the Homestead Works; and return to Pittsburg by the P. R. R. to Fourth Ave. or Union Station. The Edgar Thomson Works have an annual capacity for the production of 600,000 tons of metal, their chief product being steel rails. The Homestead Steel Works, perhaps the more interesting of the two, produce annually 400,000 tons of steel and make large quantities of steel and nickel armour-plates. Natural gas is largely used for fuel at both works. The two works employ about 6000 men. The name of Homestead became widely known in 1892 in connection with the disastrous strike of its workmen, which finally necessitated the intervention of the State militia.

The American Iron & Steel Works (Jones & Laughlins) are on the S. bank of the Monongahela, opposite Pittsburg. The Keystone Bridge Works, which have produced some of the finest steel bridges in the world, cover 7 acres of ground at the corner of 51st St. and Railroad St.

The Pittsburg Reduction Co., at Kensington (20 M. from Pittsburg, on the Allegheny Valley R. R.), produces about 1000 lbs. of pure aluminium daily.

The Pittsburg Plate Glass Works are at Tarentum, Creighton, and Ford City, the first two on the Western Pennsylvania R. R., the last on the

Allegheny Valley R. R. The Phoenix Glass Works are at Phillipsburg, on the Pittsburg & Erie R. R.

Allegheny City (Hotel Federal), on the N. bank of the Allegheny, offers few attractions to the visitor. The value of its manufactures in 1890 was $20,500,000. Taking a tramway-car in 6th St. (Pl. C, 3), we cross the river and follow Federal St. to the Town Hall and the Carnegie Free Library (Pl. C, 2). Thence we may follow Ohio St. to the S. W., passing St. Peter's Church, to the Park (Pl. B, 2). To the left rises a hill crowned by the Soldiers' Monument (Pl. B, 2), to which we should ascend for its *View of the two cities. Walkers may descend on the other side and return to Pittsburg via the old covered Union Bridge (Pl. B, 2, 3).

River Navigation. Through the Monongahela, Allegheny, and Ohio more than 20,000 M. of inland navigation are open to the steamers of the cities of Pittsburg and Allegheny, and regular communication is thus kept up with New Orleans (p. 366), 2000 M. distant. The tonnage of the river-craft of Pittsburg (1,360,000 tons) is said to be greater than that of New York or all the Mississippi ports put together. This is owing to the enormous coal traffic, and stern-wheel tug-boats may frequently be seen conveying a train of barges with a total cargo of 20,000 tons of coal. The Davis Island Dam (movable), on the Ohio, 4 M. below the city, was constructed at a cost of nearly $1,000,000 (200,0007.) and has one lock 500 ft. long and 110 ft. wide.

A trip up the Monongahela by steamer, as far as Monongahela City or Brownsville, is very picturesque.

Connells

FROM PITTSBURG TO CONNELLSVILLE, either by the S. W. Pennsylvania R. R. (56 M.) or by the B. & O. R. R. (58 M.), in 2-21/2 hrs. ville (Gough Ho., $2), a town of 5529 inhab., on the Youghiogheny, lies in the midst of one of the two chief coke regions in the world, the other being that of Durham, England. About 6,000,000 tons of coke are produced here annually.

FROM PITTSBURG TO BUFFALO, 269 M., in 12-14 hrs. (Allegheny Valley R. R. to Oil City, 132 M.; Western New York & Pennsylvania R. R. thence to Buffalo, 137 M.). This line runs through one of the chief petroleum districts, and numerous oil-wells, in operation or deserted, are passed. Petroleum is obtained from oil-bearing sands by pipes of varying diameter, sunk to a depth of 300-3000 ft. The oil is transmitted to the large storage tanks of the Pipe Line Companies by pipe lines, which are sometimes hundreds of miles long. The railway at first follows the Allegheny River. 132 M. Oil City (Arlington, $3), a city of 10,932 inhab., is the great centre of the Oil District, and all the processes of procuring, preparing, and shipping the oil may be conveniently observed here. In 1892 Oil City was the scene of a terrible disaster, caused by the catching fire of a large petroleum tank. The burning oil, overspreading the water in the creek, set fire to many buildings and caused the loss ofmany lives. The train now follows the valley of Oil Creek, with many abandoned wells. 148 M. Titusville (European, $2), with 8073 inhab., is another busy oil175 M. Corry (5677 inhab.). 205 M. Mayville, at the head of Chautauqua Lake (1300 ft.), is the junction for (+ M.) Chautauqua (see p. 278). 219 M. Brockton, and thence to (269 M.) Buffalo, see R. 46a. FROM PITTSBURG TO ERIE, 148 M., Pennsylvania Railway in 53/4-6 hrs. 25 M. Rochester (see below); 47 M. Lawrence Junction; 92 M. Jamestown (p. 278); 133 M. Girard, and thence to (148 M.) Erie, see R. 46a.

centre.

FROM PITTSBURG TO CLEVELAND, 150 M., Penna. R. R. in 41/2-61/4 hrs. This line diverges from that to Erie at (25 M.) Rochester. 48 M. Wellsville; 93 M. Alliance; 124 M. Hudson. 150 M. Cleveland, see p. 267. FROM PITTSBURG TO WHEELING, 66 M., railway in 21/4-21/2 hrs. Wheeling, see p. 266.

From Pittsburg to Columbus and Cincinnati, see R. 44b; to Chicago, see R. 44b.

40. From Philadelphia to Baltimore.

96 M. PENNSYLVANIA RAILWAY in 2-4 hrs. (fare $2.80; parlor-car 50c.). From New York (186 M.) in 4-7 hrs. (fare $5.30). The BALTIMORE & OHIO R. R. follows almost the same route (same times and fares).

Philadelphia (Broad St. Station), see p. 210. The train crosses the Schuylkill and runs to the S.W., not far from the W. bank of the Delaware. The University of Pennsylvania (p.219) and the Blockley Almshouses (p. 219) are seen to the right. 131/2 M. Chester (20,226 inhab.) was settled by the Swedes in 1643. Between (17 M.) Linwood and (19 M.) Claymont we cross a small stream and enter the State of Delaware ('Diamond State'). Farther on we cross the Brandywine (see below) and reach

27 M. Wilmington (Clayton Ho., $3), the chief city of Delaware, situated at the confluence of the Delaware, Brandywine, and Christiana, with 61,643 inhab. and extensive manufactures, including the making of iron (Diamond State Iron Works, etc.), carriages, railway-carriages, iron and wooden ships, gunpowder, morocco and other leather, and cotton goods (total value in 1890, $20,500,000). The most interesting point is the old Swedish Church (seen to the right as we enter the station), which dates from 1698 and marks the site of the first Swedish colony in America and the first permanent European settlement in the valley of the Delaware (1638). Picturesque walks may be taken in the *Glen of the Brandywine, which is kept as a public park. The Battle of the Brandywine, in which Washington was defeated by the English in Sept., 1777, was fought about 13 M. to the N.W.

FROM WILMINGTON TO CAPE CHARLES, 192 M., railway in 6 hrs. This line, which descends the narrow peninsula to the E. of Chesapeake Bay (p. 249), is of some importance as forming part of a through-route from New York to Old Point Comfort (p. 332; 11-12 hrs.) and as a means of bringing fruit and vegetable supplies to the Northern cities. It runs through the famous peach district of Delaware. One perfectly straight section of this line, 90 M. long, is said to be the longest tangent in the United States. From (192 M.) Cape Charles steamers ply to (24 M.) Old Point Comfort (p. 332) and (36 M.) Norfolk (p. 331).

Beyond (39 M.) Newark the train crosses the famous Mason & Dixon's Line (p. 236) and enters Maryland ('Old Line State'). Near (51 M.) North-East we see Chesapeake Bay (p. 249) to the left. At (60 M.) Perryville and (61 M.) Havre-de-Grace we cross the wide Susquehanna, which here enters the head of Chesapeake Bay. Farther on we cross several wide shallow rivers or arms of the Bay. 96 M. Baltimore (Union Station), see below.

41. Baltimore.

Railway Stations. Union or Charles Street Station (Pl. C, D, 2, 3), for all points reached by the Pennsylvania Railroad and its branches, incl. the N. Central and Bal. & Pot. RR.; Camden Station (Pl. C, 5, 6), Camden St., for the B. & O. lines; Calvert Station (Pl. D, 4), for trains of the Northern Central and Baltimore and Potomac lines; Hillen St. Station (Pl. D, 4), for the West Maryland R. R.; North Avenue Station (Pl. C, 2), for local trains (Baltimore & Lehigh R. R.). Cab to hotel 25 c. for each person.